Ryuran's cooperation saved Karin a lot of trouble, so she was content to delegate the leader's authority to him.
With his own prestige, Ryuran quickly took control of Grass Shinobi Village, fully promoting the core members of the 'Flower of Grass' faction.
As a result, Mitsuzawa and the other members of the 'Seed of Grass' faction felt increasingly suppressed within the village.
Already dissatisfied with Karin handing the leadership to Ryuran, Mitsuzawa secretly gathered the 'Seed of Grass' shinobi.
In a crude underground chamber, Mitsuzawa addressed the group of Grass shinobi before him: "The 'Flower of Grass' faction has no intention of letting us live! Our concessions only embolden them to push further! We must fight back and reclaim the power that belongs to us!"
The crowd below erupted in agreement.
If Karin were present, she would have noticed that most of these shinobi were from her intelligence network, including the ramen shop owner.
After riling up the group, Mitsuzawa dismissed them, keeping the ramen shop owner behind.
The ramen shop owner said, "Mitsuzawa, you're already an elder. Why risk holding such a gathering? If Ryuran and his people go too far, we can report it to the leader!"
Mitsuzawa's expression twisted. "Hmph, you think she cares about our lives?"
The ramen shop owner was taken aback, then said, "No matter what, the leader is still part of our 'Seed of Grass' faction!"
Mitsuzawa sneered, "She's probably been planning to betray 'Seed of Grass' all along!"
"No way!" The ramen shop owner hesitated, then added, "I heard Ryuran's prestige in the village is growing. If the leader doesn't rely on us, isn't she worried Ryuran might rebel?"
"That thick-headed Ryuran…"
Mitsuzawa cursed.
It was precisely because he realized Ryuran had no intention of betraying Karin that he felt panicked.
The previous turmoil had left the 'Seed of Grass' faction's reputation in tatters within Grass Shinobi Village. If Ryuran genuinely supported Karin and won her over to the 'Flower of Grass' side, the 'Seed of Grass' members' situation would become dire.
The ramen shop owner grew anxious. "It can't be that bad, can it?"
Mitsuzawa's expression turned ferocious. "She doesn't understand anything! She's just a puppet we pushed forward, yet she dares to hand the leadership to someone else!"
The ramen shop owner asked, "What do you plan to do?"
"She was originally a spy planted by the village in the Hidden Leaf. No one in Grass Shinobi Village dares offend the Hidden Leaf now. As long as we hold this secret, we can make her our puppet!"
Mitsuzawa revealed his ambitions.
The ramen shop owner was horrified. "Threaten the leader!? That's treason!"
Mitsuzawa snapped viciously, "So what? Should we just sit and wait for our doom?"
The ramen shop owner felt he no longer recognized Mitsuzawa. He couldn't fathom why someone who had already secured the prestigious elder position would risk rebellion.
Mitsuzawa continued, oblivious to the other's thoughts: "I poured my heart into making her leader! And what did I get? A powerless elder title! Is that fair?! Ryuran's position should've been mine. I'm the one who deserves to sit on the leader's throne!"
"Indeed, it's unfair!"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.
Startled, they turned to see a figure wearing a cat-faced mask and a hooded red-cloud cloak standing there.
"The Akatsuki…"
"'A'!?"
Recognizing the figure, the two were struck with terror.
They never imagined an Akatsuki member would infiltrate this secret underground chamber undetected—especially 'A,' a fearsome Akatsuki powerhouse who had made a name for themselves during the chaos in the Land of Grass!
Undoubtedly, the figure was Shinji, here to eliminate loose ends.
Mitsuzawa and the ramen shop owner's network were no longer useful to Shinji, so to ensure Karin's safety, they had to be dealt with.
Karin's assignment of investigating the 'Box of Ultimate Bliss' to Mitsuzawa wasn't about finding the box—it was a pretext to eliminate this group.
"Such a pity," Shinji said with a smile. "Grass Shinobi Village will need new elders again!"
"Damn it!"
The ramen shop owner was in complete disarray.
Facing an Akatsuki powerhouse like 'A,' they could barely muster the courage to resist.
Mitsuzawa dropped to his knees with a thud. "Lord, I have top-secret intel about our village leader that you'll definitely find interesting!"
Shinji's expression turned playful. "What top-secret intel?"
The ramen shop owner looked at Mitsuzawa in disbelief. "Mitsuzawa, you…"
Ignoring him, Mitsuzawa said, "Lord, Ryuran is just a puppet. The true leader of Grass Shinobi Village is Karin of the Uzumaki clan, and she's at the Hidden Leaf Village's shinobi academy!"
Seeing Mitsuzawa expose the leader's identity, the ramen shop owner stopped hesitating and cautiously looked at Shinji, hoping this secret could buy his life.
Shinji said calmly, "Is that all?"
Mitsuzawa hurriedly added, "Don't kill me! I know other secrets. The village recently built a laboratory in the Land of Fire!"
Shinji's gaze sharpened. "What laboratory? Where exactly?"
Mitsuzawa pleaded, "Give me a month—no, a week—and I'll find out for you!"
Shinji inwardly sighed in relief, confirming Mitsuzawa only knew of the laboratory's existence, not its specifics.
"I underestimated you," Shinji paused, then continued, "Good thing I came, or you might've caused real trouble!"
Mitsuzawa's expression changed. "W-What do you mean?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just that Karin's situation was my doing!"
Shinji waved dismissively.
Mitsuzawa and the ramen shop owner exchanged glances, their faces paling as realization hit.
They weren't fools. Shinji's words made them understand they'd fallen into the Akatsuki's trap. All their recent actions had helped the Akatsuki gain control of Grass Shinobi Village.
"Run!"
Mitsuzawa shouted, darting backward.
Without hesitation, the ramen shop owner followed, retreating swiftly.
Swish!
In an instant, a golden silhouette projected from Shinji's body, transforming into two skeletal hands that seized Mitsuzawa and the ramen shop owner.
After the last great battle, Shinji had realized that Susanoo required practice. The more he used it, the more refined his dojutsu constructs became.
Caught in Shinji's Susanoo, the ramen shop owner knew death was certain and roared, "When did the Akatsuki turn Karin!?"
Shinji replied, "What made you think Karin wasn't always part of the Akatsuki? Oh, right—your memories were altered by me!"
With that, Shinji snapped his fingers.
"Aaah!"
Amidst agonized screams, Mitsuzawa and the ramen shop owner were crushed into pulp within Susanoo's grasp.